The Position:

Family planning is integral to maternal well-being, offering extensive health, psychological, social, and economic benefits. It empowers women, enhances their health, and contributes to more stable families and communities. Through informed and voluntary use of family planning services, women can achieve better health outcomes and improved quality of life.

Zambia’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) increased from 45 percent in 2013/14 to 48 percent in 2018, while unmet need for family planning among married women reduced from 21 percent in 2013/14 to 20 percent in 2018. Unmet need for family planning was highest among poor, less educated women and young people in rural areas. Adolescent fertility rate is among the highest in the Sub Saharan Africa region at 135 births per 1,000 women, with only 30.1 percent of sexually active adolescent girls aged 15-19 using modern contraception.

In recent years, there have been a number of interventions by the Government of Zambia and Cooperating Partners to improve the availability of and access to essential medicines and medical supplies including Reproductive Health (RH) commodities at health facility level. Despite all these efforts, women and girls of reproductive age across Zambia continue to face difficulties accessing RH commodities and services.

Access to RH commodities is even worse when it comes to the newly introduced and lesser used and Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives. Among them are the Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). It is perceived that only a small proportion of women and girls in Zambia are currently using these methods.

IUDs are a form of long-acting reversible contraception known for their effectiveness and convenience. Despite their benefits, the utilization rates vary significantly across different regions and populations. Understanding the factors influencing the adoption and continued use of IUDs is critical for improving access and development of Family Planning strategies and policies.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:

UNFPA seeks to engage a consultant on short term basis to assess factors affecting the utilization of IUDs and determine barriers faced by women and adolescents in their quest to access LARC with a particular focus on IUD.
The primary objective of this consultancy is to investigate and identify the key factors affecting the utilization of IUDs. This will include assessing awareness and knowledge levels about Hormonal IUDs.

Specific objectives 

• Identifying socio-cultural, economic, and health system factors influencing the choice and continuation of IUDs.
• Evaluating barriers and facilitators to the adoption of IUDs.
• Providing recommendations to improve the uptake and sustained use of IUDs.

Scope of Work

Under this scope of work, Consultant shall perform the tasks specified below to complete the deliverables described

The consultancy will involve:

• Activity 1: Literature Review 
• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing studies, reports, and data on IUD utilization.
• Activity 2: Stakeholder Interviews with Key Informants 
• Engage with healthcare providers, policymakers, and users to gather qualitative insights.
• Activity 3: Review and Data Abstraction
• Develop and administer data abstraction tool to collect quantitative data from DHIS2, eLMIS and other source Documents.
• Activity 4: Data Analysis
• Analyze the collected data to identify trends, correlations, and key factors affecting utilization.
• Activity 5: Report Preparation and submission
•  Compile findings into a detailed report with actionable recommendations.
• Submit a validated report to UNFPA, including a summary report

 Methodology

The consultant will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methods. The methodology will include:

• Desk review of academic journals, government reports, and grey literature.
• Designing and conducting structured interviews and focus group discussions.
• Developing and disseminating electronic and paper-based surveys.
• Statistical analysis of survey data using appropriate software.
• Thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups.

Key Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

1. Inception Report: Detailed plan of action, including methodology, timelines, and data collection tools.
2. Interim Report: Summary of preliminary findings and progress updates.
3. Final Report: Comprehensive document outlining findings, analysis, and recommendations.
4. Presentation: PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings and recommendations for stakeholders.

Contract Duration 

30 working days with the following key milestones outlined in the table;

Education Requirement

• Advanced degree(s) in public health, epidemiology, social sciences, or related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 10 years progressive experience in public health, with a focus on reproductive health research and analysis.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Excellent communication and report-writing abilities.
• Knowledge of contraceptive methods and health systems.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change
Core Competencies: 

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.